Beta Test: Neanderthals knew how to keep a tidy house, finds new research

Audio: Ryan Warner speaks with Julien Riel-Salvatore about research on Neanderthals.

Archeologists dig away at a site in northwest Italy where they found evidence of how Neanderthals organized their homes.

(Photo: Courtesy of CU Denver)

Archeologists have uncovered new research that suggests Neanderthals were a lot more like humans than previously thought.

During a dig in northwest Italy, researchers from the University of Colorado Denver found evidence that Neanderthals divided their caves into separate spaces for activities, like tool-making, butchering and sleeping.

The story is part of the new Colorado Matters series Beta Test, which covers new research coming out of Colorado's labs, universities and private companies.